File photoMichael D. Facchini is seen with his rottweiler named Garcia at his Monson home on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

MONSON – The Board of Selectmen took no action on a dog complaint by Blanchard Road resident Lyn Holinger against neighbor Michael D. Facchini regarding his rottweilers, but advised her and other neighborhood residents to call the Police Department or animal control officer immediately if they see dogs running loose.

Holinger went before selectmen at their Aug. 14 meeting. She said the dogs were in her yard and killed her cat, Bee.

Facchini, who did not attend the hearing, sent a letter to the Board of Selectmen saying “it would appear the witch hunt and mob mentality continues to be directed at our family and dogs.” He denied the allegations, and said he would consider filing a lawsuit against the town “and/or Ms. Hollinger” if any adverse actions were taken against him.

Because it couldn’t be proven that Facchini’s dogs killed the cat, the board did not take any action.

Selectman Edward A. Maia apologized to Holinger for the loss of her cat.

“I wish there were more we could do legally. I suggest that you speak to your neighbors . . . anytime you see dogs running loose, pick up the phone,” Maia said.

“We need to get the dogs in custody to prove they’re his dogs,” Animal Control Officer Wendy LeSage said.

LeSage said Facchini was cited for having unlicensed dogs, and also was given a warning, as it is the first complaint this year, regarding the loose dogs. She said he owes the town $130 in fines ($15 each for licenses and $50 each for being unvaccinated). They do not know if the dogs are up to date on their rabies vaccines because they are unlicensed. Proof of rabies vaccination is needed to license a dog.

Holinger, of 30 Blanchard Road, said that on May 31, her daughter saw two rottweilers that she said belonged to Facchini in their yard, and that the next day their cat Bee was found dead in the same spot where Facchini retrieved the dogs.

Holinger said she is concerned, and does not want the dogs running loose. She said the dogs also killed another neighbor’s chicken in March and “now they killed my cat.”

“I don’t feel safe walking on my street,” Holinger said.

Selectmen Chairman Richard M. Smith asked Holinger’s daughter if she saw the dogs attack the cat, and she said no, but that she heard them barking. Holinger said Facchini drove a black Jeep into her driveway, approximately 240 feet from the road, to get to the dogs. She said Facchini lives two doors down from her, and that she does not know how the dogs got into the fenced-in backyard.

Police Chief Stephen Kozloski Jr. said his department has not had much cooperation from Facchini, adding there have been prior complaints about loose rottweilers.

“Unfortunately we’ve never been able to establish how many dogs he has,” Kozloski said.

A dog that belonged to Facchini was struck and killed on that road in 2010, Kozloski said.

LeSage added that they have no proof that Facchini's dogs are dangerous to people.

Facchini came before the board once before, in September 2009, after a neighbor claimed his two rottweilers were trespassing in her yard. The neighbors that complained were Brenda S. and Erwin C. Markham II. Their son, Erwin Clinton Markham III, was found guilty of animal cruelty for shooting Facchini’s two dogs, killing one, after they escaped onto the Markhams’ property in June 2008. He received two years probation.

At that hearing, Facchini said he would do his best to contain his three dogs.